Maynard, MA, USA: Beacon-Villager newspaper column on local history, observations on nature and recreational activities, plus an occasional health-related article. Columns from 2009-11 collected into book "MAYNARD: History and Life Outdoors." Columns from 2012-14 collected into book "Hidden History of Maynard." - David A. Mark

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Saturday, April 8, 2017

Assabet River Rail Trail - April 2017

See May update: footbridge open to traffic even though fencing and landscaping not complete.

New photos on status of Assabet River Rail Trail, Maynard
and Acton, Massachusetts. The
replacement footbridge in Maynard was installed February 8th (photo). Work on the approaches, including the loss of parking spaces behind the post office, began April 10. The bridge remains closed to
traffic.

February 8, 2017: A crane starts to lift and then lower the
Assabet River Rail Trail

bridge at the same site where a wooden footbridge
had been since 1989, previously

the site of a railroad bridge, 1850-1979.

In Acton,
the focus has been on the boardwalks over wetlands in front of and to the north
side of The Paper Store building, on Route 27. Farther north, the old Acton bridge, over Fort
Pond Brook, has been removed. Grading and filling ongoing. Nothing paved yet north of Concord Street, Maynard.

Older sets of construction photos posted in November, October, December and
January. The overall schedule calls for the complete 3.4 miles from near Acton train station to Maynard:Stow border to be completed by fall 2017,
with landscaping (tree planting, etc.) wrapped up in early 2018.

Click on any photo to enlarge:

The bridge to cross Fort Pond Brook is being assembled near Maple Street,
Acton. It will be trucked to the site and lowered into place by crane

The bridge is 70 feet long. Like the Maynard bridge, it is to be 16 feet wide.
To be installed summer 2017. Maynard bridge will have lights. Not this one.

At the Paper Store office complex, on Route 27, Acton, a boardwalk is being
constructed over a small retaining pond and over wetlands. The Trail here has
left the original railroad right-of-way to be between the building and Route 27.

The boardwalk makes a right angle turn around a kiosk to connect with the
Trail, which resumes its route on the original railroad right-of-way
in the woods off to the left of the photo. SAAB dealership visible on right.